Controversial Housing Project Moves Forward in Waukesha

Developers from MSP Real Estate got the green light to build a controversial apartment complex on Meadow Lane despite many neighbors and residents bringing concerns about traffic and density to the proposal during a public hearing before the on Tuesday after a lengthy debate.

Alderman Paul Ybarra tried unsuccessfully to change the project to a planned unit development to give the Common Council more oversight in the plans. The Common Council denied his request but eventually approved the rezoning of the property from temporary zoning to multi-family residential zoning.

Voting against the rezoning were Ybarra and council members Rick Hastings, Joe Pieper, Eric Payne and Joan Francoeur. In favor of the zoning were council members Chris Hernandez, Steve Johnson, Brian White, John Kalblinger, Roger Patton, Kathleen Cummings, Andy Reiland, Terry Thieme and Duane Paulson. Alderman Vance Skinner was not present.

The affordable housing project also includes a memory care facility for dementia patients, but that was not of concern to the neighbors.

Shannon Neubauer, who lives in the Pebble Valley neighborhood, said the area is already saturated with rental properties. In addition to the site being too small, she also was concerned about losing “the song of the hoot owls” at the vacant lot.

“We are just bringing more on top of what is already available in the immediate area,” Neubauer said. “It would just add more problems instead of solving problems.”

Many other people spoke about the density, which was nine units per acre, and requested the project be lowered.

“Say no to nine and go to six,” said resident Chris Bauman.

Waukesha resident Nancy Wagner brought forward concerns about the current housing market as homeowners in the area already have faced challenges in selling their homes.

“We have got all this housing and the prices are going down and down,” she said.

But leaders from faith communities and affordable housing proponents argued that the housing mix is needed in Waukesha.

“I believe that all people deserve to be able to live where they work, to be able to choose where they live,” said Beverly Bradford.

The Rev. David Simons of St. Matthias Episcopal Church shared that the people needing affordable housing are those who cut hair, flip burgers and change sheets at the hospital. While there is plenty of housing available in Waukesha, he said, there aren’t as many affordable housing opportunities.

“It is for people in the lower income brackets who are trying to claw themselves out of poverty,” Simons said.